Fast-food restaurants became a big part of the 1950s culture due to many other new innovations. Fast food restaurants became very popular during the 1950s because families were busy and they needed a place where they could quickly pick up food; people also wanted to be able to get quick food that they could eat in front of their new TVs. The first McDonald's opened in the 1940s, but a lot happened to this popular fast food chain during the 1950s; in 1954 an entrepreneur named Ray Kroc visited the McDonald's trying to sell his Multimixer, a machine that could mix five milkshakes at a time; he became fascinated with their "Speedee system" and he ended up opening up a McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois which sold its 100 millionth hamburger just years later in 1958. The idea of fast food franchises became soon became popular, not only applying to burgers and fries, but also to pizza and coffee shops.Pizza Hut and Domino's started up during the late 1950s, and both prospered because of the demand for quick food.The first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet opened in 1952 using the pressure cooker to shorten the chicken preparation, giving it an advantage during the "fast-food boom." The first Dunkin' Donuts opened in 1950 in Massachusetts, and it served fresh coffee and pastries. |
Other fast-food restaurant that were popular during the 1950s: White Castle, Wendy's, Church's Chicken, Denny's, Burger King, and many others. Many fast-food restaurants of the 50s are still around today, and this shows how the "fast-food boom" of the 1950s greatly influenced America's culture. |
